Internships and Employment

What Do Gerontologists Do?

As our society ages, the professional world is welcoming people trained to work with older adults. Job opportunities include:

Health care professionals ♦ Long-term care institutions ♦ Educators ♦ Researchers ♦ Human services ♦ Religious organization ♦ Federal, state, and local government agencies, including the aging network ♦ Social service agencies ♦ Retirement communities ♦ Business and industry

The Importance of Internships

According to the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, "Gerontological specialists report that interships are the best single approach to finding a job. The intern gets to know the host organization and to be known. If the fit is good and the intern is productive, a job offer frequently is forthcoming. If the fit is inappropriate, the intern has learned about an area that is not right for him or her." Internships help students get their foot in the door and allow for future employment opportunities.

Current Internships/Employment Opportunities Available

Washington University Friedman Center for Aging is looking for 16 undergraduate students to participate in an 8-week Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in Aging program. The program offers undergraduates the exposure opportunity to a career in science with a special focus on interdisciplinary aging research or to a research career in geriatric healthcare. This exciting learning experience includes a paid stipend. Participants will work with a researcher on a research project, attend weekly seminar sessions, and travel to an ethics retreat. For more information, check out the website at http://wucfa.wustl.edu. This program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation.

The Charleston at Cedar Hills is looking for an intern to do exercises with the elderly several times a week. Contact Beth Farnsworth at (801)772-0123 or bfarnsworth@thecharlestonatcedarhills.com.

Internships and volunteer positions with Harmony Home Health and Hospice are currently available. Contact Janis Gardner at (801)434-9004.

Internship and volunteer positions are currently available at Alpine Health & Hospice. Contact Lynn Whitaker at (801)221-0669.

Check with the MFHD/HFL Internship office (1045 JFSB) for intern postings or go to their website.

If you are interested in hiring BYU Gerontology Students for jobs or internships, please contact us at (801)422-1410.

Other Employment Opportunities

Below is a list of Federal, National, and Local websites that contain employment listings, educational and training opportunities, career planning, and future employment possibilities.

Age Works
Careers in Aging
Utah's Division of Workforce Services
BYU Alumni Placement (On-line job searching, Current job listings sent to BYU from employers)
Route Y Career Resource Services (If you are a current student looking for a job after graduation, please log in through Route Y and click on Career Resource Services.)
Utah Department of Human Services Employment Opportunities

Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life. ~Confucius